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This publication has been superseded by GAO-04-212G, Benefit System Requirements: Checklist for Reviewing Systems under the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act, October 2003. The Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996 requires that agencies implement and maintain financial management systems that substantially comply with federal financial and management system requirements. These requirements are detailed in the Federal Financial Management System Requirements series issued by the Joint Financial Management Improvement Program (JFMIP) and in the guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-127. GAO issued a checklist, which reflects JFMIP's Benefit System Requirements, to assist (1) agencies in implementing and monitoring their benefit systems and (2) managers and auditors in reviewing their benefit systems to determine if they substantially comply with the act. Among the types of benefit programs covered by these systems are those for retirement, disability, death, survivor, and other. This checklist is provided as a tool for use by experienced staff and is one in a series of documents intended to assist agencies in improving or maintaining effective operations.